Sehgal Method-moreinfo

[andyh]

More on Dr Sehgal’s Method (he has several books out—they focus on the
creative use of mental symptoms in finding the remedy)
From Homeopathic Links Periodical 1993, 94
===============================
Dr. Sehgal's rediscovery of Homœopathy
Dr. M.L. Sehgal of Delhi is the founder of what has come to be
known as "Dr. Sehgal's School for Revolutionised Homœopathy" (or
"Rediscovery of Homœopathy"). His approach to case-taking and finding
the remedy is unique. He observes the way in which the patient presents
his case to him, and from his expressions picks out the present,
prominent and persistent symptoms and interprets them into rubrics
(called king-pin rubrics) in Kent's Repertory, to arrive at the remedy.
With the help of this new technique the mental symptoms are obtained in
a short time. in this system the nature of the complaint (Particulars,
Generals or Modalities, etc.) is not taken into account, barring the
mental king-pin rubrics. Starting with a small group of students in
1985, Dr. Sehgal today has a large following. As this technique gains
more acceptance over the years it is well worth a serious trial.

=================================
Revolutionised Homœopathy - An Impression
Co. Van Twillert, Dutch Centre of Classical Homœopathic Assistance,
P.O. Box 277' NL-3860 AG Nijkerk
In November of this year I had the privilege of visiting the Indian
Dr M.L. Sehgal, the founder of Revolutionised Homœopathy. In this
article I would like to explain some features of a new way of
prescribing. Why did this method interest me? It all started when I read
and studied Rajan Sankaran's book: 'The spirit of Homœopathy'. This book
impressed me so much that I am still grateful to the author. Sankaran
has been using the style of Dr M.L. Sehgal and in Chapter 30 he gives
some insights in the wider use of the Repertory rubrics. After having
read an article about Belladonna in 'Homœopathic LINKS' 2/93 written by
Dr Sehgal, I decided to go to India to meet this remarkable man and
learn more about his theory. In India I also met Dr H.L. Chitkara, a
colleague and follower of Dr Sehgal's School.
Dr Sehgal discovered Revolutionised Homœopathy around 1970 with the
case of a ten year old boy who suffered from high fever on alternate
days. Besides stupefaction during the fever there were no apparent
mental or physical signs. Helleborus Opium and Stramonium, the remedies
for painlessness of complaints were prescribed without success. When he
was asked about his condition, he replied that he was feeling well. The
boy remained in bed most of the time. There was absolutely no complaint
on
his part. Sehgal consulted the Mind section of the Repertory and
turned to the following rubrics; Indifference, complain does not.
Bed, desire to remain in.
Well, says he is, when very sick,
From this he prescribed Hyoscyamus Niger C30 with astonishing
results. The boy recovered within a week. Sehgal believes that you only
need the Mind symptoms to cure a patient. He completely ignores local
and general symptoms, like food craving, sensitivity to temperature,
desire for sex etc. He considers the patient's physical complaints only
to evaluate the improvement after the remedy has been given. Kent says:
"The centre of man is WILL and UNDERSTANDING. Man's constitution exists
of his will and his thoughts, supported or aided by his memory". This,
in other words, is his mind. The
mind is the most sensitive part of a human being. In case of
disease or proving, the mind is the first to react. In homœopathic
literature you may have come across the term 'innermost of man' -
nothing else is meant here but the mind. Considering the above it is
strange that we 'mind' about all the Physicals, Keynotes and Generals.
This is the reason that Sehgal only uses the Mind section of the
available repertories. Likewise he never uses the term constitutional
remedy.

2. A woman, 30 years old. Main complain: Amenorrhoea almost since
puberty. She was treated by me for six months with three remedies
without result. The expression of the patient was full of questions. "Do
you think you can cure me? Some people tell me to visit another doctor
because a homœopath does not say if he can cure you. I myself have faith
in you and want to stay with you. Still it has already
been 6 months. I am afraid that the hope of getting better, which I
had when I first came to see you, will not be fulfilled. She added: My
haemorrhoids are bleeding and I am glad you did not want to look at
them". When I asked here why, she answered: I was raped at the age of
nineteen and since then I do not trust men. I decided to choose the
following rubrics:
Doubtful of recovery.
Clinging grasp at others.
Light, desire for.
Helplessness, feeling of.
Fear of misfortune and
Fear, dread of men.
The only remedy that came through was Phosphorus which I prescribed
in C200. After the remedy the haemorrhoids kept bleeding for one week.
The menses started and the mind state disappeared completely.

=======================
Present, Predominating and Persisting symptoms
Sehgal only takes Present, Predominating and Persisting symptoms
instead of taking all Mind symptoms. The Mind symptoms which have to be
taken should belong to the actual expression of the Mind. I will give
you an example: A patient says: 'Doctor, please act quickly otherwise I
will have this fever for such a long time. The rainy season is about to
begin and although I do not have any logical explanations for my fear I
have to tell you that I do suffer.' Here Sehgal turns to the rubrics:
Carried, desire to be fast
Fear, superstitious.
The remedy for this patient is Rhus Toxicodendron.
The way the patient experiences his or her disease, the expression
of the patient, is often the key to the remedy that has to be
prescribed. I believe that this part of Sehgal's new method, namely the
translation of the patient's expression into Repertory language, is the
biggest contribution since the early days of homœopathy. This method is
a tremendous tool for us to cure a patient quickly. While using Sehgal's
system we do not need to have much information about the patient's'
history, nor do we have to bother about Physicals. Therefore
consultation time will decrease by approximately 60%. As a direct result
we can treat more patients with more success and at lower fees. To me
Sehgal's method seems logical. Why should you ask so many questions and
probe so deeply into the patient while the patient himself gives you in
a free expression all you need to prescribe on.
A lot of work has to be done to become a prescriber in this way.
Firstly we have to become familiar with rubrics. Secondly we need to
know the dictionary meanings of the rubrics and their differentiation.
It is, for example, important to know the difference between:
carefulness, cautious, and anxiously cautious and anxiety anticipation.
Thirdly we have to imagine and discover how the patient will express a
certain rubric in reality. These are the three essential steps.
Belladonna, Opium and Cocculus
In India I came to understand that in this system Belladonna, Opium
Cocculus, Bryonia and Chamomilla are polycrests. This is in sharp
contrast with the polychrest remedies of Classical Homœopathy: Calc.,
Sulph. and Lyc. Belladonna is the big leader.
Revolutionised Homœopathy a Natural Healing System
The two main functions of the body are assimilation and
elimination. It is a sign of health when these two processes are in
balance. The two functions cause diseases when they are not in balance.
Sehgal noticed that after the correct remedy was administered, a
discharge appears from any of the five natural outlets of the body:
mouth, nose, anus, urethra (vagina) and skin. These are toxins that have
to be eliminated.
Curative action of the remedy
Sehgal always starts prescribing remedies in C30 potency and has
noticed two types of reaction occurring after the correct remedy has
been given. The first reaction is an amelioration of the general state
of the patient. This concerns the energy level, the mental/emotional
state and the local physical problems. This reaction is permanent which
is followed by the second, which is unpleasant
but temporary, ultimately yielding to the first. The second
reaction will be an aggravation of the main complaints accompanied with
eliminations from the five natural outlets. This will last for an odd
number of days, i.e. one, three, five or more. The middle day can be the
day of the peak. These attacks can
be repeated with reduced intensity, duration and frequency, but
they will lead towards a complete cure. After a prescription the patient
returns within a week. This way one can evaluate the reaction to the
remedy precisely. As far as I have understood this system I think Sehgal
will not allow any patient to take allopathic medication including pain
killers. I am not yet able to follow this part.
Why we should give Revolutionised Homœopathy a real chance
We have seen in our practice that the results of Classical
Homœopathy have not always given the result we would have expected.
Generally speaking you may get a little (or more) frustrated when you
look at your own achievements critically. A 'Desire for Light' may
appear. As I look at myself and at many of my colleagues, I feel that we
only make slow progress in the art of prescribing, despite hard work and
study. This method might help in the areas we have failed. It is
however, a very difficult
method and demands a complete new technique. Sehgal suggests
treating only two patients out of every ten this way, make gradual and
steady progress.
Cases resolved by using this new method
The first two cases were treated by me and the last two by my
colleague Wim Gelderblom.
Some cases treated using Dr. Sehgal's technique.
Case No. 2
J.M. 12 years old, came with high fever (102 F) headache and pain
in the legs. At the start of the fever his eyes were red. Such attacks
of fever were more frequent in the monsoons when he often got wet while
playing in the rain.
The first thing he said was "Get me well soon as I must go to
school on Monday". On being asked why, he said he had to play a match.
He often asked his mother why he was getting such attacks. While he was
talking and even otherwise, he had a constant smile on his face.
Rubrics:
- Carried, desire to be fast
- Light, desire for
- Smiling
= Belladonna
Dr. Sehgal's explanation.
Carried: In a state of being transported.
Interpretation: An urge to be carried physically and be in a
comfortable state. (as if not in a position to carry ones own weight.)
Wants to be in a state of health, by any method whosoever can make it
possible.
My present condition is so bad that I feel, to live in it anymore
is not possible for me. I am trying to find somebody who can pull me out
of it. It may be any doctor, any system of medicine.
Fast: More than the normal speed.
Interpretation: Wants to be in a state of relief with speed without
having to wait any longer.
Interpretation:1. Please do something quickly. Otherwise do not
blame me if I do not come to you any more. You will like to know the
reason which is very simple that I want relief of pain as quickly as
possible.
Why are you in such a great hurry?
You are very strange. Who would not like to get quick relief?
2. Doctor, do you have any medicine which can give quick relief?
One of the reasons for not coming to homœopathy is that it is slow in
healing.
He also had a craving for sour and there was an irregular
distribution of heat/head and abdomen was very hot while the hands and
feet were icy cold. The remedy was given in the 1M potency 6 hourly for
3 doses. There was not much improvement. The remedy was given in the 10M
Potency1 dose which cured in 24 hours.
He kept well after this for almost 1 year. He came recently for
fever and a sore which he wanted to get rid of quickly. He was given
Belladonna 200 1 Dose, and Sac-lac T.D.S. He was fine after 2 days.
-
Case No. 3
A.S. A 13 year old school-girl was being treated for fever for 15
days without any relief. The fever was in the range of 101 to 104F. It
would start with a lot of shivering and she wanted to be covered. This
was followed by heat, with a desire to be covered. In both these stages
she wanted her mother to hold her closely. The heat was followed by
sweating with a desire for uncovering and a fan. There was thirst for
large amounts of water only in the heat stage. She preferred cold sweet
water. There was no appetite and she was very sleepy. She also
complained of weakness. Stools were not regular.
The other complaints were, painful mouth ulcers, severe leg pains
requiring hard pressure, headache, earache, neck pains and cough with
expectoration.
Physical examination did not reveal anything except a coated tongue
and mouth ulcers. Liver and spleen were not palpable. She was not
interested in anything but sleeping. When she was well she was a keen
student and a very good swimmer.
On various indications, Merc-sol., Bryonia, Belladonna, Lachesis,
Lycopodium and Pyrogen had been given without much relief.
Investigations showed malarial parasites (Plasmodium Vivax) in the
blood smear. All the other tests including a widal, were negative.
At this stage, at the end of 2 weeks of homœopathic treatment, she
was given anti-malarial treatment by her family doctor. (Chloroquin, by
injection and tablets). There was no relief and she was brought back for
homœopathic treatment as she refused to take any more allopathic
medicines.
Since our usual method had failed I decided to try Dr. Sehgal's
method.
She was still getting two attacks of very high fever as before. All
the other features were still present.
The mother again stressed that she wanted to be closely held when
the fever rose; also, she wanted her mother to sleep near her,
throughout the night. Even in the daytime, the mother had to be near her
but not necessarily holding her. Although there were other family
members present like the father, two older brothers and a sister-in-law,
she insisted that only her mother should give her the medicines and
generally attend on her. This behaviour had persisted throughout the
illness. This was interpreted as being "Love-sick".
Dr. Sehgal's explanation and interpretation
Dictionary meanings.
Love: A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection for a
parent, child, friend or a person of the opposite sex.
Sick: Deeply affected with some unhealthy feeling as from a
disease.
Interpretation: When in distress, I am tormented with the fond
memory of my mother and want to be by her side all the time.
In this girl, the strong feeling of wanting to be with her mother
all the time was a predominant feature and it had persisted throughout
the illness. Thus this emotion was present, persisting and predominant.
On this basis Antim-crud 30/ 1 dose was given on 12.10.1992, with
Sac-lac/4 hourly.
14.10. Sleep for 4 hours after the medicine. Feels "fresh". Fever
rage less. Appetite better. Still weak and wanted mothers presence.
Cough had increased with a lot of expectoration. An chest X-ray was
taken which was normal. Sac-lac 4 hourly.
15.10. Fever less but less fresh. Antim-crud 200/1 dose, followed
by Sac-lac 4 hourly.
17.10. Much better. Fever less. Cough less.
Now starts talking about her work. She had missed a lot of school
and now wants to make it up. Still feels weak. Still wants mothers
presence at night, but during the day she does not mind being on her
own.
Sac-lac 4 hourly.
19.10. Fever almost normal. Asks for milk (in any illness, goes off
milk). Asks for food. Cough has increased. Feels very weak. Complains of
itching of nose, eyes and throat. Wants bedroom window closed if she is
alone, for fear of someone entering. Irritable with noise. Wants to go
to a friends house to get the homework.
21.10. Fever 97F. Weakness severe. Pain in the legs still there. No
longer demanding mothers presence during the day or night. No longer
'love-sick' and indications of the next remedy have appeared.
Rubrics.
- "Delusions, poor, he is."
Poor: Short of something, This girl was complaining of severe
weakness, Weakness is being short of energy. She is poor in her energy
levels.
- "Business, talks of".
To her, her school is her business. As she starts recovering, her
thoughts are mostly on her school work and she talks about it all the
time.
- "Sensitive to noise".
Loud noise bothers her.
- "Fear, Robbers, of".
She is scared someone might enter her room through the open window.

Belladonna 30/1 dose, and Sac-lac T.D.S.
She came in beaming after 2 days, saying she was fine except for a
little weakness.
It is interesting that Belladonna given earlier had no effect on
the fever. During the fever stage, the predominant emotion being
Love-sick, only antim-crud could touch the case. After the fever
settled, Belladonna features came up and one dose of a 30 potency helped
her.
She went away for a vacation out of town for about 10 days. During
this period she kept very well.
4.11.1992: She again with a fever of 100F, and a bad cough, she
wanted her mother to be with her, as before.
Antim-crud 200/1 dose and Sac-lac T.D.S.
11.11. No fever and very little cough. Appetite good. Sleeps on her
own. Sac-lac T.D.S.
-
Case No. 7
My last case is someone I have been treating for 2 years without
success. She is 82 years old and has been going down mentally after a
hip fracture. She has high blood pressure and had a stroke which left
her paralysed on the left side. She is confined to her bed. She stays
there with her eyes closed, not talking to anyone. Every now and then
she starts shouting and then goes back to her state of stupor. She has
incontinence or urine and stool and has to be fed forcibly. she does not
recognise anyone or talk to anyone. I had given her remedies like
Baryta-carb, Stram., Lach., Sulphur without any effect.
Dr. Sehgal's recent seminar in Bombay had highlighted the many
facts of Belladonna very beautifully. One of the rubrics he explained
was "Unconsciousness, screaming, interrupted by" with a single remedy
Belladonna.
Her stuporous state followed by shouting was interpreted as the
above rubric and Belladonna 30/ 1 dose, with Sac-lac T.D.S. was given.
All her allopathic medicines were stopped except a nightly dose of
Diazepam.
4 Days later a definite improvement was noted. She was alert and
remained awake for longer periods. Of course that meant more shouting.
2 weeks later: There is no doubt that she is improving. She
recognises a few people and actually says something. She calls out to
her son and husband and speaks in 3 word sentences.
Only time will tell how this case will end, but a seemingly
hopeless case has shown a miraculous improvement with just a few pills
of Belladonna 30, thanks to the genius of Dr. M.L. Sehgal.
His method appears to be a path breaking variation of the
conventional Hahnemann/Kent technique, which can produce dramatic
results in seemingly hopeless cases, in a remarkably short time. Dr.
Sehgal's approach is also unique in that, in 200 years of homœopathy, no
one has come up with such an imaginative way of looking at rubrics, thus
enlarging the horizon and capability of homœopathy.
All the explanations and interpretations of the rubrics are taken
verbatim from Dr. Sehgal's rediscovery of Homœopathy, Roh books series
IV and are marked by asterisks.
To understand Revolutionised Homœopathy, readers should study the
Roh books series I to V, by Dr. M.L. Sehgal, in that order.

Some cases treated using Dr. Sehgal's technique.
Case No. 1
Mrs. R. 65 years old, came for redness and swelling of the eyes
after washing her head. The eyes felt as if bruised. The complaints had
gone on for 2 years and were worse in summer and during change of
weather. She had seen many eye specialists who diagnosed it as
conjunctivitis and prescribed some drops which gave temporary relief.
All tests were normal.
She was irritable of late with no desire to work. She was also very
sleepy and felt feverish. She lived with her husband, son and grandson.
Her daughter-in-law had died some years earlier.
She had to look after the family herself. She had part-time help
which was irregular and unreliable. As she was not in good health she
had to depend on the servants. She said they were always in a hurry to
finish and go, although they were well paid and treated well. What would
happen when she died? This thought used to worry her a lot. She would
often say "I have always done my best for others. Why is God doing this
to me? Her main worry was her 12 year old grandson, and the servants
behaviour used to anger her because he would have to eat food that was
not cooked properly. She was a chilly person.
The rubrics chosen were:
- Anger, touched when
- Anxiety about the future
- Indolence, aversion to work
- Fear of misfortune
= Antim crudum
Dr. Sehgal's explanation:-
Rubrics:
Anger, touched when
Anger, A strong emotion excited by an injury involving a desire for
retaliation.
Touched: Coming into contact with the fingers or hands or any part
of someone's body.
Interpretation: Sometimes touch is pleasant and sometimes
unpleasant; it may convey friendly feelings or evil designs and invite a
reaction accordingly. This is about physical touch. there is another
more important view in this context, where feelings or sensitivities are
affected, where words and thoughts touch the mind and provoke strong
displeasure and a desire for retaliation.
Interpretation: Because of my ailments, ideas come to my mind that
if I die what will happen to my children. There is no one to look after
them. They are so small and innocent and require love and affection from
someone. These sentiments move my mind violently to argue that I have
never thought of doing any wrong to others then why all this suffering
for me and my children.
Mrs. R's anger is provoked when her feelings of being harshly
treated (by God) and unfairly (by the servants) are aroused. Antim-crud
was given in 30 potency, 1 dose, followed by Sac-lac.
Two weeks later she sent a message that she was much better in
every way. The eyes were better and she was less sleepy. Even after 6
months she continued to be well.
1 Year after the first consultation the symptoms recurred; the
remedy was repeated in the same potency. Since the effect was not as
good as the first time, it was repeated in the 200 potency and she has
been well since.
-
Case No. 5
M.A. 40 years old nurse, married, with one son, living with her
husband, sister-in-law and mother-in-law, telephoned to say that she had
very high fever with rigors. It had come up suddenly and the temperature
was 106F. Since she could not come. Belladonna 30/ 1 dose was prescribed
on 3.11.1992.
4.11. No fever in the morning but fever again 106F in the night.
Sac-lac.
5.11. No fever in the morning but as evening came on the fever
started rising and she came to see us. She said the fever would rise in
the evening, reach the peak by night and come back to normal by the
morning. She had extreme thirst and a desire to be left alone. She
didn't want to talk. I was about to give her Bryonia, when she said:
"Doctor its very funny, but I am thinking of my mother all the time. If
she had been here she would have looked after me tenderly". Having said
this, she started crying.
I asked her what she would have done if her mother had been alive.
She said she would have taken a taxi and gone straight to Poona, where
she had lived (a distance of 200km).
I asked her whether her sister-in-law and mother-in-law were not of
any help. She said they didn't bother about her at all. If she wanted to
eat something, she would have to make it herself, and this made her very
angry.
Rubrics
"Love-sick", "Anger, Touched when".
Comment: She gets angry when she finds that her Sister-in-law and
Mother-in-law do not bother about her at all, even when she is so ill.
Her feelings are hurt and she is angry. (Refer to case No. 1 for a
fuller explanation).
5.11. Antim-crud 30/1 dose, with Sac-lac 6 hourly.
6.11. No change. Fever recurred in the evening, going up to 106F at
night and becoming normal by morning. Sac-lac 6 hourly.
7.11. No change. Sac-lac.
8.11. Antim-crud 200/ 1 dose with Sac-lac.
9.11. Much better. Fever went up to 102F. No fever from 9.11.
12.11. No fever. Very well. Has started going to work.
==========================
From one of Rajan Sankiaran’s books:
Calc has the symptoms "Fear of pain and suffering" and "Indifference to
recovery". Dr. M.L. Sehgal of Delhi combines the two rubrics to explain
a typical statement made by his typical Calc patients: "Doctor, I hope
the medicine is not too strong. If the medicine (or potency) is going to
aggravate my complaints, I would rather let it be as it is and not take
anything".

====================
Repeating a post made by Dr. Hakkak responding to someone wondering
about the methods of case interpretation that Rajan Sankaran exhibits.
Dr. Hakkak suggests that Dr. Sankaran was influenced by Sehgal:
Subject:
Re: [Minutus] Sankaran, way of repertorization
Date:
Mon, 18 Nov 2002 00:32:46 -0800 (PST)
From:
Feras Hakkak
Reply-To:
minutus@yahoogroups.com
To:
minutus@yahoogroups.com
Hello,

Sankaran's words are a bit strange but M.L.Sehgal's
words are really strange. Sehgal would claim that his
method works and it is possible to learn
revolutionized homoeopathy and practice acoording to
it. But it is nearly impossible to understand his
thought from his books (at least I couldn't). I think
we must go and attend his classes (now his sons'
classes) to understand revolutionized homoeopathy.

Twenty years ago (?) Sankaran came to know about
revolutionized homoeopathy and got interested in it.
The strange type of interpretation of the rubrics
comes from Sehgal's method. After that, Sankaran began
to mix different ideas and develop his own system. It
is interesting to know that late Dr M.L.Sehgal would
think that Sanakaran has lost the track and has
deviated from revolutionized homoeopthy. He didn't
believe in Sankaran's method.

Now, if we want to understand Sankaran well, we have
to study his books (Spirit, Substance, etc) and also
study M.L.Sehgal's books (Rediscovery of Homoeopthy
series). In this way we can have a better judgement
about his system.

Best wishes,
Feras